Water

Having low water pressure in the house can be a real pain. For one thing, you can’t take a really brisk shower to wake you up in the morning if your water is sleepy. For another, it will take forever to fill up your washing machine. Before calling in a plumber, though, find out what is causing it. It may be easily fixed.

Clogged Aerators

If water pressure is low in some areas but not others, the faucet itself may be clogged by debris. You can check this by unscrewing the aerator (it’s the “cap” at the end of the nozzle that has a fine screen across). If the water flow improves without the aerator, it is probably clogged. You can unclog it by soaking it in a little water and vinegar to loosen it up. If that doesn’t work, replace it with new ones.

Water Heater Problems

If your water pressure is low only when using just hot water, your water heater may be the problem. Check if the valve leading to the house is fully open. If it is, your water heater may need cleaning. You’ll need a plumber to check it.

Leaks

The most common source of leaks in the toilet, and it doesn’t have to be a leaky pipe (which you will notice almost immediately anyway and it is easy to fix). A defective water filling valve, flapper or float can keep water running continuously through the water tank. If you listen closely, you should hear it. You can also check by putting in a couple of drops of food dye in the tank and see if it leaks into the bowl. If it does, trace which component is causing it and replace that.

If it is not the toilet, it could be a busted pipe. This can be a big problem if it is in hard-to-reach areas such as under the house or in the walls. If you see water spots or notice water in areas where there shouldn’t be, call a plumber to look for it and fix it.

Mineral Buildup in Pipes

Unless your house is new or the pipes have just been replaced, chances are your pipes have mineral buildup, especially if you live in an area where the water is “hard” such as Texas. As pointed out on the American Water website, mineral deposits can lead to funny tasting water, yellowish clothing, and clogged pipes. A plumber will know what to do, but you may want to consider filtering the water that comes into your whole house to prevent the same problem in the future.